Refrigerating system



Dec. 11, 1934. H SEMANS ET Al.

REFRIGERA'TTNG SYSTEM Original Filed Oct. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 11, 1934. H. L, SEMANS ET Al.

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Original Filed Oct. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Harry L. Semans, Pittsburgh, Pa.,` and Gilbert ,'1.

Heddaeus, Wilmington, Del., assignors to Refrigerating Equipment Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application October 7, 1930, Serial No. 487,054

Renewed May 10, 1934 15 claims. (ol. (s2-126) f l This invention relates to refrigerating systems generally and particularly to refrigerating systems and devices for ice cream cabinets or the like. The general and primary object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating system of the class indicated which is simple in construction and, therefore, readily lends itself to commercial manufacture, but which is nevertheless highly elicient in operation.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a device of Vthe class indicated an evaporator unit of novel construction having a large amount of heat-absorbing area and utilizing a comparatively small amount of contained liquid refrigerant. This unit is the most important feature of the system of the invention. It comprises a plurality of communicating cylindrical jackets and a float-valve chamber. Due to the construction of this refrigerating unit, it constitutes a very rigid. and strong assembly which may be removed as a whole and another unit substituted therefor very quickly, so that it is unnecessary, as it has been in the past, to cool another cabinet, when the refrigerating unit is disabled for any reason, and transfer the contents of the first cabinet to a second cabinet.

The cylindrical jackets, which comprise elements of the evaporating unit, are disposed so as to encircle the tops of the cans of ice cream. By setting the evaporator high in this manner, the liquid refrigerant always surrounds the top of the cans of ice cream which is the place at which the refrigerant is most needed. The openings between the float-valve chamber and the cylindrical jackets, and also the openings between the jackets themselves, are of such shape kas to provide not only means for establishing a uniform refrigerant level throughout the evaporator unit, but also ample space for the return of gas formed by evaporation of the refrigerant, and oil which is carried over from the compressor by the refrigerant. With this end in View, the refrigerant level is maintained at the center point of the openings. Since the effective work of the refrigerant is being done while it is being changed in state from a liquid to a gas, and since the gas has little refrigerating value, it is desirable to remove it asquickly as possible in order that the space it would occupy may bel filled with liquid refrigerant. The construction of the evaporator unit of our device enables such quick removal of the gas. The oil, which is also returned readily due to the construction of the evaporator unit, may be drained off through a scavenger pipe provided in the gas return line at ra level below that through which the gas returns. y'

" Another feature of the invention is a novel wedge which may readily be used in an ice cream cabinet equipped with the evaporator unit of the invention. Due to the weight and strength of the metal used in the evaporator, it is possible to force this Wedge between the ice cream cans and the evaporator to keep the ice cream cans from turning when ice cream is being dipped from it. From the standpoint of the retailer of ice cream, this is a very important feature, since he can ll his ice cream .clipper with a circular motion and in this way, he does not cause the ice cream to become moredense, as is the case when it is necessary to push/the dipper down into the ice cream.y 'This feature of the invention also permits the retailer to dipthe ice cream from the nearest point to the can first, where it is most aptto become soft, and in this way, he can keep the ice cream alwaysina uniformly firm condition. The use of the wedge is made possible by the fact that the inner walls of the cylindrical jackets are made of `very heavy metal to withstand the crushing pressure ofthe refrigerant. This not only enables the use of the wedge but g also prevents damage tothe evaporator by ice picks or crowbars, which are sometimes used in removing accumulated ice around the top of the holes of the cabinet.

A still further important feature of the device of the invention is that, due to the construction and arrangement of the evaporator unit, a large space is provided in 'the cabinet for the storage of packaged ice cream or the like. Since the evaporator is of relatively short vertical dimension and is mounted at the top of the cabinet, a space is left beneath the evaporator yunit which maybe used as storage space. The space under the float-valve chamber is especially adapted to suchV storage. Also if one or more of the ice cream cans is removed, ample storage space beneath that section of the evaporator unit is thereby provided.

The above andother features of the device of the invention', aswell as the structural details of a specific embodiment thereof, will be more apparent hereinafter; The following rdetailed description, together with the accompanying drawingsywill afford a clearer understanding of the specific embodiment of the device disclosed herein.

Inthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device of the invention, showing an ice cream cabinet of kconventional construction equipped with the evaporator unit of the invention, the lid of the cabinet and the ice cream cans being removed for a clearer View of the evaporator;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view along line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View along line 3-*3 of Fig. 1, showing adjacent cylindrical jackets of the evaporator of the invention, and showing also the details of construction of the jackets and the openings therebetween;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail View of a section of adjacent jackets, showingy clearly the manner in which they are fastened together;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail View of a portion of single jacket, showing the manner in which the inner and outer cylinders are formed to provide the jacket;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the ice cream cabinet, showing one jacket of; the evaporator and the wedge of the invention usedtherewith;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion `of the jacket and ice cream can of the device of Fig. 6, showing the wedge disposed between the'jacket and can; and Y Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the `wedge of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown an ice creamY cabinet 1, which may be of conventional form andconstruction. As customarily constructed, such a cabinet comprises outer walls 2,- which maybe of metal, wood, or other suitable material, and a bottom 3 which may be of the same material. The container thus formed encloses a thick lining of some heat insulating material 4, such as cork.` This-insulating material is in turn lined with a 'thin metal container 5. By meansor woodenl beams 6 and 7, the upper part of the cabinet isv formed to receive the lid of the cabinet 8. yThe lid, as customarily constructed, may comprise aheat insulating body portion 9, which Vmay be of cork or other suitable materiaLand which is also lined on its outside surface with a metal lining 10 and a thin inner metallic lining 1l. The .portion of the lid which `contacts the cabinet is formed by means of wooden beams-12 and 13--v so as to be .adapted to be received by the upper part of" the cabinet. Buer members 14, which may be of suitable material such as felt or rubber, are provided at various points to form cushions for the lid.4 As is well known in the art, the lid of the cabinet is provided with openings 15` which are adapted to receive individual lids 16 for covering the ice cream cans. These openings may be lined with hard rubber or other linsulating material.

The evaporator unit of the invention comprises a plurality of cylindrical jackets 17 which are joined together and to a float-valve chamber 18, as shown clearly in Fig. l. The assembly of the jackets and iioat-valve chamber is such that `a strong and rigid unitary assembly is formed. This unit is disposed at the top of the ice cream cabinet, as shown in Fig. 2. It may be supported by means of brackets 19 which are welded or otherwise s'itably fastened to the sides. of the jackets, and brackets 20 which are welded to the inside metallic lining of the cabinet. These brackets may each be provided with *aligning openings which receive a bolt 21. It will be understood, of course, that the manner in which the evaporator unit is supported may be varied, and that the unit may be supported in any desired fashion.Y The supporting means disclosed and described ismerely one manner in which this function may be carried out. It will be readily understood that each o-f the jackets of the evaporator is adapted to surround an ice cream can 22 which rests upon a false bottom 23 of the cabinet. The false bottom may, of course, be supported by blocks 24 or any-other suitable means. It will also be noted that ample storage space is provided beneath the float-valve chamber, and that by leaving one oi the ice cream cans out, further storage space 25 may be provided. While we have shown an evaporator having jackets, it will bev obvious that .such unit may comprise any'number of jackets depending on the size of the cabinet.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, for the details of construction of the evaporator, each of the jackets .which make up the evaporator unit comprises a pair of'concentrically arranged cylinders 26 and 27.. It will be understood, of course, that these cylinders are formed of suitable metal. ner cylinder is formed of metal of heavy gauge for the purposes which have been previously pointed out and will be referred to later. The upper and lower edges of the cylinders are joined together in any suitable manner to form the desired cylindrical jacket. As shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 5, thejoining of the edges may be carried out by bending the outer cylinder 27 as indicated at 28 and welding the edges together to form a Huid-tight joint. formed by pressing out a lip on one of the cylinders and passing it through an opening in the adjacent cylinder. The lip may then be pressed down firmly on the adjacent cylinder to form a locked seam or joint, which may then be welded to form a very rigid construction. Such a locked seam or joint is commonly known and is in itself not novel. It willbe understood that the manner in which the edges of the cylinders are joined together to form a cylindrical jacket may be varied, and that any other suitable manner of obtaining the desired rigid joint may be utilized.

The cylindrical jackets of the evaporator imit and also the float-valve chamber, are provided with openings 29 for a purpose already pointed out and which will be referred to hereinafter. By means of these openings, communicating passages are established between the float-valve chamber and the jackets and also between the jackets themselves. As shown clearly in Fig. 4, the adjacent jackets may be fastened together to form the rigid unitary assembly by a suitable joining of the edges of the jackets surrounding the oval openings. The desired firm and iiuidtight joint may be accomplished in any suitable manner, such as by bending one edge over the other to form a lock joint and then welding the same. Thismanner of joining adjacent jackets may also be utilized in joining the float-valve chamber to the jackets which are adjacent it, reference being had to 1 for a clear understanding of this feature. The manner in which the above-described joint between adjacent jackets and betweenthe float-valve chamber and jackets is accomplished is illustrated at 30 (see Fig. 4). While the jackets4 may be made communicating at all points of contact, we prefer to provide communicating openings only between successive jackets of each or the two rows shown in Fig. 1.

The purpose of the iioat-valve chamber is to feed the liquid refrigerant to the communicating cylindrical jackets comprising the evaporator, and to maintain thelevel of the liquid refrigerant in those chambers at a constant height. The

The in- A suitable joint may be 'draw the heat from the article to be chilled or frozen. This device is used in ice cream cabinets to replace the copper coils or copper coils and brine tanks ordinarily used. It is ,termed an evaporator because of the action of the contained liquid refrigerant in changing from la liquid to a gas by evaporation or boiling. In the device of the invention, the liquid refrigerant is main tained at the level of the midpoint of the oval openings 29. These openings, therefore, provide not only passages for the liquid refrigerant but also upper spaces forthe return of thegas formed by the evaporation of the refrigerant and also provide for the return of any oil which has been carried over from the compressor by the refrigerant. The refrigerant used in such rdevices is usually sulphur dioxide and, in such case, the oil does not mix with the refrigerant butA floats on top of the liquid. Therefore, the openings 29 provide for the return of this floating oil to the float-valve chamber where it may be carried back to the compressor by any suitable return means.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 8 now for a clear understanding of the wedge and its purpose, the wedge 31 is shown disposed between the inner cylinder 26 of one of the jackets of the evaporator and the ice cream can 22. This wedge may be of any suitable form, but we prefer to construct it with the shape shown clearly in Fig.j8. The wedge comprises a back wall 32 which yis adapted to engage the wall ,of the inner cylinder 26 and side walls 33 whose edges 34 are adapted to engage the ice cream can. The wedge is also provided with a top 35 which facilitates removing of the wedge from its position between the jacket and the can. As is Well known, ice cream cans are customarily formed with a bead 36, and the wedge of the invention is especially adapted to engage either the bead or the upper edge of the can or both. The wedge may be formed of any suitable material, such as wood, metal, etc. As has been previously stated, the inner cylinder 26,0f each jacket is formed of heavy metal primarily to withstand the crushing pressure of the refrigerant. This construction, however, also enables the use of the wedge since the wall of the cylinder 26 has great strength and rigidity. The construction of this wall also is such as to prevent damage from ice picks, crowbars, etc., as previously pointed out. The advantages attending the use of the wedge of the invention have already been enumerated.

It will be apparent that the numerous features of construction of the device of the invention constitute a refrigerating system or device of unique construction and having attending advantages and efficiency of operation. It will be apparent that the entire evaporator maybe withdrawn from its cabinet as a unit. If the evaporator unit should become inoperative for any reason, the lid of the cabinet may be withdrawn and the evaporator taken out merely by loosening its supthe invention, in providing for the quick removal of a disabledevaporator and the substitution of another evaporator, entirely eliminates the loss of time and product which attend the procedure heretofore carried out.

` While we have disclosed anddescribed herein a single embodiment of the device of our invention, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that various changes and modifications in the details of construction of the device may be made without departing in any Way from the spirit of the invention. The material of the various ele- Vments, the supporting means, the manner of join ing the edges of the evaporator elements, etc., may be modified or changed if desired. It will also be apparent that the device disclosed herein may be utilized to preserve any perishable goods, such as meats, packaged goods, etc., or the principles of our invention may be applied to any refrigerating cabinet'especially adapted for any particular erant chambers disposed with their longitudinal axes parallel, said chambers having ovate vertically disposed openings in their adjacent walls, the edges of said openings being in intimate contact with each other and attached directly one to the other, whereby said chambers are rigidly attached together and aremade communicating lfor the circulation of the refrigerant and for the return of gas formed by evaporation.

2. In a refrigerating device an evaporator unit comparing at least one refrigerant chamber and a refrigerant feeding chamber adjacent thereto, an ovate passage interconnecting said chambers, the major axis of said passage being vertically disposed, whereby said chambers are made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant and said passage provides ample space for the return of gas formed by vaporation of said refrigerant and oil carried by said refrigerant.

`3. Ina refrigerating device, a plurality of containers for the material to be chilled, an evaporator unit comprising a plurality of adjacent refrigerant chambers surrounding the upper part of said containers,v said chambers having openings in the walls thereof, the edges of the openings of adjacent chambers being joined together, wheren by said chambers are made communicating for n the circulation of the refrigerant.

4. In a refrigerating device for ice cream cabinets or the like, an evaporator unit comprising a vplurality of adjacent pairs of concentric members joined together, whereby said chambers are made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant.

5. In a refrigerating device for ice cream'cabinets or the like, an evaporator unit comprising a plurality of adjacent pairs of concentric cylindrical members having their edges joined together to form a plurality of refrigerant chambers, the outer members of said pairs having openings, the edges of the openingsv of adjacent outer members being joined. togethenwhereby said chambers yare made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant, and means for maintaining the level of the refrigerant within the bounds of said openings.

6. In a refrigerating device for ice cream cabinets or the like, an evaporator unit comprising a plurality of adjacent pairs of concentric members having their edges joined together to form a plurality of refrigerant chambers, the outer members of said pairs having ovate openings, the edges of the openings of adjacent outer members being joined together, whereby said chambers are made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant and said openings provide ampie spa-ce for the return of gas formed by evaporation of said refrigerant and oil carried by said refrigerant.

7. In a refrigerating device for ice cream cabiets or the like, an evaporator unit comprising a plurality of adjacent pairs of concentric cylindrical members having their edges joined together to form a plurality of refrigerant chambers, the outer members of said pairs having ovate openings, the edges of the openings of adjacent outer members being joined together, whereby said chambers are made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant and said openings provide ample space for the return of gas formed by evaporation of said refrigerant and oil carried by said refrigerant, and means for maintaining the level of the refrigerant within the bounds of said openings.

8. In a refrigerating device for ice cream cabinets or the like, an evaporator unit comprising a plurality of adjacent pairs of concentric members having their edges joined together' to form a plurality of refrigerant chambers, the outer members of said pairs having ovate openings whose major are vertically disposed, the edges of the openings of adjacent outer members being joined together, whereby said chambers are made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant and said openings provide ample space for the return of gas formed by evaporation of said refrigerant and oil carried by said refrigerant.

9. In a refrigerating device for ice cream cabinets or the like, an evaporator unit comprising a plurality of adjacent pairs of concentric cylindrical members having their edges joined together to form a plurality of refrigerant chambers, the outer members of said pairs having ovate openings whose major axes are vertically disposed, the edges of the openings of adjacent outer members being joined together, whereby said chambers are made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant and said openings provide ample space for the return of gas formed by evaporation of said refrigerant and oil carried by said refrigerant, and means for maintaining the level of the refrigerant within the bounds of said openings.

1G. In a refrigerating device for ice cream cabinets or the like, an evaportor unit comprising a plurality of adjacent pairs of concentric members and a oat valve chamber adjacent certain of said pairs, said members having their edges joined together to form a plurality of refrigerant chambers, the outer members of said pairs and said valve chamber having openings, the edges of the openings of adjacent outer members and of said valve chamber and the outer members of said ertain pairs being joined together, whereby said chambers are made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant.

11. In a refrigerating device for ice creamv cabinets or the like, an evaporator unit comprising a plurality of adjacent pairs of concentric cylindrical members and a float valve chamber adjacent certain of said pairs, said members having their edges joined together to form a plurality of refrigerant chambers, the outer members of said pairs and said valve chamber having openings, the edges of the openings of adjacent outer members and of said valve chamber and the outer members of said certain pairs being joined together, whereby said chambers are made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant, said float-valve maintaining the level of the refrigerant within the bounds of said openings.

12. In a refrigerating device for ice cream cabinets or the like, an evaporator unit comprising a plurality of adjacent pairs of concentric members and a iioat valve chamber adjacent certain of said pairs, said members having their edges joined together to form a plurality of refrigerant chambers, the outer members of said pairs and the said valve chamber having ova-te openings, the edges of the openings of adjacent outer members and of said valve chamber and the outer members of said certain pairs being joined together, whereby said chambers are made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant and said openings provide ample space for the return of gas formed by evaporation of said refrigerant and oil carried by said refrigerant.

13. In a refrigerating device for ice cream cabinets or the like, an evaporator unit comprising a plurality of adjacent pairs of concentric cylindrical members and a float valve chamber adjacent certain of said pairs, said members having their edges joined together to form a plurality of refrigerant chambers, the outer members of said pairs and said valve chamber having ovat-e openings, the edges ofthe openings of adjacent outer members and of said valve chamber and the outer members of said certain pairs being joined together, whereby said chambers are made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant and said openings provide ample space for the return of gas formed by evaporation of said refrigerant and oil carried by said refrigerant, said float-valve maintaining the level of the refrigerant within the bounds of said openings.

14. In a refrigerating device for ice cream cabinets or the like, an evaporator unit comprising a plurality of adjacent pairs of concentric members and a float valve chamber adjacent certain of said pairs, said members having their edges joined together to form a plurality of refrigerant chambers, the outer members of said pairs and the said valve chamber having ovate openings whose major axes are vertically disposed, the edges of the openings of adjacent outer members and of said valve chamber and the outer members of said certain pairs being joined together, whereby said chambers are made communicating for the circulation of the refrigerant and said openings provide ample space for the return of gas formed by evaporation of said refrigerant and oil carried by said refrigerant.

15. Ina refrigerating device for ice cream cabinets or the like, an evaporator unit comprising a plurality of adjacent pairs of concentric cylindrical members and a oat valve chamber adjacent certain of said pairs, said members having their edges joined together to form a plurality of refrigerant chambers, the outer members of said pairs and said valve chamber having ovate openings whose major axes. are vertically disposed,

the edges ofthe openings of adjacent outer members and of said valve chamber and the outer members of said certain pairs being joined togetheLWhereby said chambers are made com- 5 municating for circulation of the refrigerant and'l said openings provide ample space for the return y of gas formed by evaporation of said refrigerant and oil carried by said refrigerant, said floatvalve maintaining the level of the refrigerant Within the bounds of said openings.

HARRY L. SEMANS. GILBERT T. HEDDAEUS. 

